USPTO Patents Application 10036871

presented to the operator via the drop down display. Said digital images are captured via
manual or vice recognition control.

24. the apparatus according to claim 1 wherein all of the components cited are built into
and are an integral part of the head wearable brim /visor together with the functional
electronic components of selected cornmunications/entertainment devices.

25. the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a voice recognition circuit for
recognizing voice input to the microphone and for performing a dialing, selecting or
control operation based on voice commands, (said voice recognition circuits are already
part of many of the communications and entertainment devices which electronics would
be repackaged into the electronics module.)

26. the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all components of the apparatus are
integrated into the design of the brim /visor, said brim /visor then being attached to the
cap.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit from previously filed
provisional patent application number 60/253,996, filed
11/30/2000, titled Hat/Visor integrated multi-media system
HIMMS.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

This invention relates to the field of wearable hands free
solar powered cap/visor integrated communications and
entertainment devices and more particularly to an apparatus
that is practically invisible, applies voice recognition
and heads up display technology, and applies to hands free
integration of combinations of popular commercial hand held
products to include cell phones, personal communications
devices, beepers, FM radio receivers, GPS receivers, voice
recorders, organizers, limited internet, digital

photography and video recording, limited internet, and
broadcast TV reception.

This invention relates to the modular systems
integration of several existing and proven communications
and entertainment technologies with a head wearable cap or
visor resulting in a compact, lightweight, integrated,
hands free, manual or voice activated, heads-up (digital)
displayed, solar powered, all weather personal multi-media
communications/entertainment system, whose baseline
functional capability could include but not be limited to
combinations of the following electronics capabilities; FM
radio reception, digital music (MP3) playback, cell phone,
beepers, voice reorders, personal two way communications,
organizer, cell phone, limited internet, GPS, and
potentially broadcast TV reception. At the high end of this
inventions capability, the system could be configured for
low resolution digital photography, video recording and
wearable computing. The Head wearable cap/visor Integrated
Multi-Media System could be made up of discrete media
functions identified above or combinations of the above-
mentioned communications and entertainment media, depending
on the user' s preferences and the appropriate digital
electronic circuit packaging scheme.

BACKGROUND - DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

Presently inventors and manufacturers have developed a wide
variety of hands free and wearable communications and
electronics devices*. Ruppert ET AL discloses in patent
6,236,969 dated may 2001, a wearable telecommunications
apparatus with voice/speech control features, based on a
concept of a self contained telephone headset that includes
an integral antenna, power supply, on board electronics and
circuitry for RF and IF communications. The apparatus is
held in place via a headband, and uses voice recognition
technology as a prominent feature. The system runs off of
battery power which would call for replacement batteries or
recharging. The system would have to be placed on the
users head when operating and otherwise be carried in some
sort of case or container when not in use. My invention is
always in place, practically invisible, completely
innocuous when operating or stowed, solar powered, RF safe
by virtue of antenna location, and offers the user a much
wider range of consumer communications/entertainment
capabilities.

In us patent 5,796,374, issued on August 18, 1998, Cone ET
AL proposed a wearable support for an image display system
that was to be worn on a users head. The principal
application called for a head-hugging member made of a
multi-elastic material that contained a rigid bill that
would support an image display module. A separate image-
generating module would be strapped to the operator' s belt
or otherwise carried. While this patent had little in
common with my proposed device, this patent was of interest
because an alternate embodiment showed a baseball cap as
the head hugging member with the image display device
mounted on the rim using a through the rim set of mirrors
and prisms to get images from the image display device to
the users eye.

Most of the media functions identified above have been
available for many years first in bulky analog
configurations, then in discrete downsized digital
packages. Across the board, all of the
communications/entertainment devices were historically
designed for individual functionality, to be hand held,
battery powered, stored in pockets, belt clips and carrying
cases until used. -Recently, some manufacturers have
integrated cell phones with limited internet, MP3 playback
and beeper capabilities, and those design advances have
proven to be popular with consumers. Once again, as
manufacturers further downsized the electronics packaging,
and integrated over several important communications or
entertainment functions, the design baselines still had the
consumers holding the device when in use, storing the
device in inconvenient locations when not in use, and
changing or recharging batteries. The consumer could
scarcely carry and operate more than one or two of the
discrete media systems, and could never think of operating
them during inclement weather. Wire entanglements were and
continue to be prevalent for the earphones. Cell phone
antennas were radiating RF energy to close to the ear canal
raising medical concerns. Consumers were driving with one
hand while holding a cell phone with the other, causing an
inordinate amount of motor vehicular accidents, resulting
in many localities passing strict ordinances and stiff
fines against operating cell phones while driving. The
prior art was always obtrusively visible when operated by
the user, and invariably had to be stowed in some sort of a
carrying case when not in use. The electronics module of
this invention is always cleverly hidden in plain site
beneath the user's cap/visor visor and always available at

a moments notice for operation without the slightest
inconvenience to the user /operator .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By means of the present invention, consumers will have
access to a device that affords them an integrated
complement of communications and entertainment features in
a wearable, hands free, solar powered, voice activated
package that is completely innocuous whether in use or
stowed. The device offers advantages in antenna radiation
safety and comfort and does not require carrying cases or
storing devices when not in use. The solar cell will
provide continuous power to the electronic module
precluding the need for replacing batteries or recharging
the electronic module via an adaptor. The visual display
can provide a host of information to the user, to include,
operational menu's, limited internet data, hands free
digital photography or video, hands free position locating
(GPS), and hands free broadcast TV.

It is a further object of this invention to provide the
consumer with an apparatus comprised of the electronic
components of existing communications and entertainment
products whose features are integrated and repackaged into
the electronics module and worn in operation or stowed
throughout the day without any inconvenience to the user or
without having the user display any unsightly electronic
hardware. Many cell phones on the market today feature
voice activation, personal communications, beeper and other
functions. The cell phones are very light and the hand
held devices are very small. The electronics circuitry
within the hand held cell phones could very easily be
repackaged in the electronic module for the apparatus that
I am proposing. The same holds true for had held GPS
receivers and TV's. The hand held packaging has been
vastly reduced in size and the quality of the diminutive
displays has been enhanced, implying the electronics
designs for these two products are prime candidates for
repackaging into the electronics module of the apparatus
proposed herein.

These and other objectives of the present invention are
achieved with this hands free wearable baseball cap
integrated multi-media apparatus configured with the
electronics components of popular consumer communications

and entertainment devices. The packaging of the multi-
media apparatus components above and below the rim of a
baseball cap fixes these components to the cap and provides
unprecedented utility to the user/operator regarding the
three major components of the multi-media apparatus, the
electronics module, the solar cell and the antenna. This
invention is the first to present an everyday wearable
platform for a solar cell large enough to sustain the
communications and entertainment electronics components
involved herein - the baseball cap rim. This invention
provides a fixed mounting location for the antenna with
both a active and stowed position, far enough from the ear
canal to preclude the RF health issues that concerned hand
held cell phone users. This invention packaged the
electronics components underneath the rim of the baseball
cap making that assembly virtually invisible to the user
and anyone else unless the operator uses the display or the
microphone boom for private conversations. When not in
use, all components of the multi-media apparatus are stowed
on the baseball cap and more or less undetectable to the
consumer. At any point in time if the consumer needs to
make a call, listen to FM stereo or MP3, take a digital
still photograph, all it takes is touching the power
button, put one or both earphones in the ears, drop the
display, make selections via voice commands, stow the
display and enjoy the conversation or music entertainment.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

The intent of this invention is not to redesign the
electronics subassemblies involved in the two way
communications devices, FM radio, beeper, cell phone, etc.
function, but to continue to capitalize on advances in
digital technology and downsize, integrate, repackage those
subassemblies' into a single state of the art, hands free,
solar powered, manual/voice activated, head-up displayed
personal multi-media System that could be mounted in a
comfortable yet innocuous position on the consumer, whether
active or inactive. The system would be modular in the
regard that the basic building block would be any one of
several media functions, like the FM receiver or personal
communicator (walkie-talkie) . That basic apparatus
configuration would have all the system accessories like
the solar cell, head up display, earphones, telescoping
microphone, voice activation, etc. Adding features like
the beeper, MP3 playback, cell phone, voice recorder, etc.

would place more emphasis on the visual display and voice
activation for normal operation. Volume controls across
all functions could be via voice or manual activation on
the system case. MP3 recorded features and cell phone
capabilities could be added with the same voice activated
controls and functional entries on the display menu. As
many cell phones come equipped with some limited Internet
access, that same feature can be made available via voice
activation and the display. While I make constant
reference to combinations of media features packaged to

Provide the user with entertainment, local/long distance
communications, and data organization, each of these
functions can be individually packaged and mounted in the
electronics module.

This system would be much more functional than
anything previously provided for the consumer market. Key
advantages are, hands freedom, virtually invisible, no
operational/stowed inconvenience, continuous power, foul
weather safe, voice operation, visual display and the
availability of any one of several media functions
instantly, at any time, any place. Consumers could mix and
match over a set of media functions and pick those
communications/entertainment capabilities that best suit
their needs. Parents could have the cell phone/personal
phone/fm receiver/Cell phone combination, while their kids
had the personal phone/beeper/MP3 player/FM receiver
combination. Law enforcement officials would need the
personal communication back to a base station, GPS, cell
phone with Internet link to an information database.
Communication restrictions while driving should be
eliminated. Consumers could operate a vehicle with both
hands on the steering wheel while using the voice
activation software and calling up a name or a phone
number. Radiation concerns are eliminated since the
radiating element of the antenna is much further than the
2.5 inch "safe" distance. The entire package can be moved
from one cap/visor to another. This opens up entirely new
vistas for law enforcement, organized sports,
manufacturing, camping, business, etc., etc. Areas where
hand held, belt clipped, or shirt pocket stored
communications weren't practical could easily be realized
now and the applications are limitless.

BRIEF* DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of all the major
components of the hands free head wearable cap/visor
integrated multi-media apparatus.

FIG. 2 is the same as FIG. 1, except that the electronics
module has been inverted to illustrate the two active pins
on the top of the module.

FIG. 3 is the underside of a head wearable cap with the
electronics module mounted to the underside of the head
wearable cap visor according to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention.

FIG. 4 has the electronics module mounted on the underside
of the head wearable cap visor mounted on the head of a
user, as that user tilts his head up.

FIG. 5 is a representation of the solar cell and antenna
mounted on the upper surface of the head wearable cap visor
as the user tilts his head down.

FIG. 6 is a straightforward view of the head wearable cap
visor integrated multi-media system. Note that the visual
display is stowed, and the electronics module is not
visible .

FIG. 7 is the right side exposure with the visual display
deployed, the antenna active and the right earphone in use.

Fig. 8 is the left side view with microphone boom deployed
and the left side earphone active.

Fig. 9 is the frontal view with the visual display and
camera lens deployed and active.

Fig 10 is the right side view with a full face .visual
display down and in the viewing position.

Fig 11 is the disassembled view of all the components
highlighting the external memory card and the slot for it
on the electronics module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the interest of better presenting the intent of this
invention, reference will now be made to a preferred
embodiment, integrating the hands free head wearable

communication and entertainment apparatus with the common
baseball cap which is illustrated in drawings 3-9.
Providing a detailed description of this invention against
this embodiment should not represent a limitation in the
scope of this invention as a head wearable apparatus. It
is also the intent of this invention to convert clumsy and
obtrusive hand held battery powered singularly functioned
devices to the hands free, solar powered, always available
yet innocuous apparatus by integrating and repackaging the
existing technology into the electronics module. Detailed
descriptions of the functional electronics used to support
the communications and entertainment capabilities will not
be offered.

Fig. 1 is a layout of all of the components of the hands
free head wearable multi-media apparatus shown free of the
cap/visor that it will typically attach to. The apparatus
illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a electronic module 1 that
will house all of the systems electronics, a solar cell 2,
that will continually recharge the systems battery, an
antenna 3, for all wireless functions, and earphones 4 for
private reception of communications or entertainment
information.

The key element in this invention is the electronic module
casing 1. It will be hollow and made up of a plastic
material measuring approximately 6" long, 2" wide, by .5"
thick, shaped to the contour of the underside of the
baseball cap or sun visor. It will be tapered to a narrow
edge all along the front and side edges and come almost
flush with the lower surface of the baseball cap visor.
The electronic module case 1 will widen from front to rear
and from both sides to the middle achieving a width of
about .5 inches at the rear of the electronics module or
where the cap visor meets the forehead of the wearer.
There is ample space within the hollow case to configure
the functional electronics components from individual or
several integrated communications and entertainment devices
and break out the wiring for input/output devices such as
power, antennas, speakers, microphones, visual display,
etc., to match up with similar devices on the electronics
module .

The Key input output and control components found on the
underside of the electronics module 1 of Fig. 1 are the

visual display 5, the rechargeable battery 6, speakers 7,
built-in microphone 8, privacy boom microphone 9, manual
control buttons for power and menu scrolling 10, LED lights
confirming operation 11, input/output jacks 12, the
earphone jacks 13, volume control 22, earphone/built-in
speaker switch 23 and the digital camera lens 19.

Fig. 2 is identical to Fig 1, except that the electronic
module has been flipped over showing the upper surface of
the module displaying the active pins 16 & 17 that serve
two major functions. First the pins connect to active
electronics circuitry inside the electronics module. The
pins have detachable pointed tips so they can be pushed
through the baseball cap rim and mate up with two
receptacles 20&21 in the side borders of the flexible solar
cell 2 on the upper surface of the baseball cap rim. Once
in place, the pointed tips of both pins screw off exposing
electrical connections for the antenna and solar cell power
cables. The left hand pin 16 provides the RF interface
between the antenna 3 which screws onto the left side pin
post 20, and the electronic module 1, anchoring the left
side of the electronic module 1 and solar cell 2 to the
baseball cap visor. The right hand pin 17 provides the
power and recharging interface between the solar cell 2 and
the electronic module 1. When the pointed pin top of right
hand pin 17 is screwed off, power connections from the
electronics module 1 are exposed and mated up with power
wiring from the solar cell 2. The right side Pin post 17 is
then capped with an electrical wire nut 14 which would
anchor the right side of the solar cell 2 and electrical
module 1 to the baseball cap visor.

Fig. 3 illustrates the underside of a baseball cap with the
electronic module 1 mounted in place on the underside of
the baseball cap visor. The stereo speakers 7 would be
selected to maximize performance while minimizing size.
The selection of the rechargeable battery 6 would be
dependent on the communications/entertainment functions
mounted in the electronic module. Rechargeable Lithium ion
batteries would be a good selection supporting individual
or combinations of cell phone, two way communications,
beeper, FM stereo, MP3 digital playback, or voice
recording. Repackaging different combinations of other
functions such as GPS receivers, digital still or video
cameras may take alternate rechargeable battery supplies.
The built in microphone 8 would be sensitive enough to
capture audio generated by the wearer of the Cap/Visor

Integrated Multi-Media apparatus. The built in microphone 8
would be disabled if the wearer of the apparatus wanted
some privacy and lowered the boom microphone 9 from the
stowed position underneath the baseball cap visor, to close
proximity to the wearers lips. The wearer would be able to
lower the boom microphone to various settings through
several ratchet settings where the boom microphone attached
to the electronic module. The visual display 5 would take
on various formats depending on the functions integrated
into the electronic module 1. An LED display would be
adequate to support individual or combinations of functions
like cell phone, two way communications, beeper, FM stereo,
MP3 stereo and voice recording. Functions like digital
photography, video, or GPS graphics would take a digital
display with the kind of resolution typically found in
those hand held devices. The Input/Output jacks 12 would
follow the industry standards for functions like loading
MP3 digital stereo music or down loading digital still
photographs or video. Push button power and scrolling
control buttons 10 have associated LED status lights 11.
The earphones 4 are shown attached to the Velcro stow tabs.
The earphone wires run along side the bottom of the
baseball cap via the clips 17, and patch into the
electronic module at the earphone jack 13.

Fig. 4 represents a view of the electronics module mounted
underneath the visor of a baseball cap on the head of a
wearer with the wearer's head tilted upward. Both the
display 5 and boom microphone 9 are in their stowed
positions. The earphones 4 are inserted in the wearer's
ears through the audio wires 15 which patch into the
electronic module at the earphone jacks 13. As the
apparatus is configured, the wearer could be listening to
FM stereo or MP3 digital music, or by using the built-in
microphone communicating via the cell phone or two-way
communications function. Assuming those functional
electronic assemblies are integrated into the electronic
module .

Fig. 5 illustrates the mounting of the solar cell 2 and
antenna 3 on the upper surface of the baseball cap visor-.
The solar cell 2 would be flexible in design and can use as
much of the baseball caps visor as is necessary to keep the
electronics module battery charged. The two receptacles
where the active pins from the electronic module mounted
beneath the baseball cap visor pierce the baseball cap
visor and mate up with the solar cell 2 are shown under the

electrical nut 14 and the antenna hinge 16. The solar cell
receptacles are spaced so as to match up with the spacing
of the active pins on the upper surface of the electronics
module. The antenna 3 has been collapsed and hinged 16
down to the horizontal stowed position. Different antennas
may be needed for different operational functions. The FM
stereo and cell phone frequencies are in a different band
than the GPS receiver and therefore would need different
antenna elements for the appropriate reception. This
illustration also shows the earphones 4 in place in the
users ears.

Fig. 6 best illustrates the fact that in direct contact
with the wearer, the electronics module is completely
invisible. The antenna 3 has been raised, extended and is
active, the user selected the more private form of
communicating, so the boom antenna 9 is lowered
(disengaging the built-in microphone) to the users lips,
and the earphones 4 are in place in both of the wearers
ears. As a practical matter, the wearer would have to
first apply power to the electronic module by pressing the
power button and see the corresponding LED light up. The
wearer would then drop the display and through a series of
manual actions or voice commands scroll through an
operational menu, then manually or voice command scroll to
a particular phone number, channel, or scroll through MP3
digital music selections or FM radio frequencies.

Fig. 6A is identical to Fig. 6, except that in this
illustration, the visual display 5 with the digital camera
19 mounted on it's outer surface is deployed to it's
vertical and active position.

Fig. 7 is the right side view of the apparatus with the
display 5 lowered to the vertical position, the antenna 3
vertical and extended on the hinged antenna base 16, and
the earphones 4 inserted in the wearers ears. The audio
wires between the earphones and the earphone jack on the
electronic module is secured to the baseball cap by the
plastic clips 15. The outer surface of the earphones have
Velcro material glued on. The inverted earphone is stowed
on the Velcro pad that is pinned or glued to the back of
the baseball cap 18. The Velcro pad is positioned on the
baseball cap such that the earphone can be stowed on it
when not in use or inserted into the ear when operational
always leaving some slack in the audio wire.

Fig. 8 is the left side view of the cap mounted apparatus
with the display 5 deployed and active, the boom microphone
9 deployed and active, the earphone in the ear canal and
the antenna stowed, although it may be radiating in the
horizontal position.

ADDITIONAL /ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 9 illustrates the" relocation of the visual display 5
with the Digital Camera 19 capability added to the outer
surface. The display in the preferred embodiment was more
centered in the electronic module, and in this case it is
moved over the right eye.

Fig. 10 illustrates the full face drop down display 5. In
this case, the display would completely cover he bottom
side of the electronic module and hinge down for viewing by
both eyes. This display is practical for broadcast TV, or
GPS map viewing. All of the electronics modules controls,
built-in speakers, built-in microphones, I/O ports and
batteries would have to be on the back side of this display
or covered by the display when it is in it f s stowed
horizontal position. The technology is mature enough for
that sort of a display and there are several products on
the market today that provide this feature on eyeglass like
rims which hang on the nose and over the ears.

Fig. 11 illustrates the concept of having the electronics
module configured with a port 25 that has an adapter into
which digital memory cards 24 are plugged, each card having
a different communication/entertainment function, or
combinations of functions. The multi-media apparatus would
then be programmed to perform in accordance with the
functional card that happened to be plugged into the port.

ADVANTAGES

This patent document has repeatedly identified several
clear advantages of the Hands Free Solar Powered Cap/Visor
Multi-Media Apparatus, over the commercially available
consumer counterparts available on the open market today.
The hands Free Solar Powered integrated Cap/Visor Multi-
Media Apparatus offers the wearer enhanced awareness,

decreased amounts of electronic luggage that would
ordinarily fill pockets, pocketbooks and belt loops and
does not compromise the wearer's health, well being and
safety, especially when the operator is communicating while

operating an automobile, boat, bicycle or any other form of
transportation. Where the cell phone function alone is
concerned, many localities are passing legislation
precluding the use of hand held communications devices
while operating motor vehicles, and as a result, the cell
phone manufacturers are developing wired headsets for
remoting the cell phone to a shirt pocket of belt buckle or
cigarette lighter adapters for hands free operation while
operating an automobile. The fundamental problem is still
there, that the cell phone, batteries, headset, wiring, or
adapter still have to be. carried by the user, placed in
position, communicated with, and then stowed until the next
time that the need to communicate arises. Consumers do not
wear headsets if they're not communicating, so headsets
have to be constantly placed on the head of the operator
and removed and stored somewhere. This invention precludes
all of the above inconveniences and distractions and would
never compromise the wearer' s ability to control the
steering wheel of a motor vehicle.

The antenna location clearly reduces or eliminates the
radiation threat to the operator. Any concerns that the
handheld cell phones may have generated by having to be
held close to the ear to communicate are completely
eliminated. Medical science has suggested that 2.5 inches
was considered the safe distance for antennas radiating at
the energy levels typically experienced by current cell
phones. This design keeps the radiating element 6-8 inches
away form the operator's head and ear canal, completely
eliminating the threat.

The flexible solar cell also represents a formidable
advance in this design since it allows for the availability
of continuous power for both system operation and battery
recharging. Solar cells are being used to charge some hand
held cell phones but their charging capacity is generally
limited to the size of the cell phone itself which in most
cases are quite small. The size and charging capability of
the solar cell can vary depending on the electronic payload
within the electronics module to be supported, therefore,
the dimensions and electronic characteristics of the solar

cell can vary as long as the cell does not exceed the
dimensions of the upper surface of the baseball cap/visor
rim.

The fact that the electronics package is mounted below the
baseball cap rim, provides a measure of environmental
protection from foul weather elements such as light rain or
drizzle, as well as snow. Hand held communications or
entertainment devices should not be operated in foul
weather.

The baseball cap/visor mounting location should also
preclude any of the fumbling or dropping invariably
associated with the handheld, pocket or belt mounted
communications or entertainment devices. The wearer's
pockets will not be cluttered with electronic devices,
headsets, or wires. The wearer would never have to be
concerned about breaking out, putting on equipment,
communicating, stowing and repeating that cycle time and
again. The apparatus proposed in this invention is always
available and invisible in plain sight, never representing
an inconvenience whether operating or stowed.

Other advantages focus on the use of the technological
advances represented by the heads up display and voice
activated technology. Developers of both of these
technologies have made quantum leaps in integrating the
necessary hardware and software into commercial products
that can benefit from these advances in personal use
technology. While some of the more elementary operational
functions of the Integrated Multi-Media Apparatus may get
away with manual operations, some of the more exciting and
robust capabilities will not be able to do with out the
drop down display and the voice activated capability.

Operation

The preferred embodiment for the Cap/Visor integrated
Multi-Media apparatus is the baseball cap and the apparatus
would first have to be installed. With the baseball cap
positioned upside down on a table. The electronics module
is measured for it's fit underneath the baseball cap visor.
With the widest section of the electronics module
positioned close to where the wearer' s forehead, gentle
pressure is applied so that the active pins 16 & 17 slowly

and evenly penetrate the visor of the baseball cap. Once
those pins penetrate the upper surface of the baseball cap
visor, the solar cell 2 is placed on the upper surface of
the visor in such a way that the electronic modules 1
active pins 16 & 17 pass through the two receptacles 20 &
21 in the borders of the solar cell. The active pin tips
are then screwed off exposing active components for the
antenna and solar cell interconnects. The antenna 3 and
it's hinged swivel base 16 screws on to the left handed
active pin post 16 completing the antenna interface with
the electronic module and securing the left side of the
electronic module and solar cell to the baseball cap visor.
The right side active pin post 17 gets wired to the
respective recharging leads of the solar cell 2 and a
electrical nut 14 screws down on that post completing the
electrical connections between the solar cell 2 and the
electronic module 1 and securing the right side of the
solar cell and electronic module to the baseball cap visor.
Both earphone jacks are inserted into the connectors 13 at
both sides of the electronic module 1, while the audio
wires are secured to the bottom of the cap by the clips 15
that connect the earphones 4 to the electrical module 1.
The earphones 4 have small Velcro patches on their outside
and they mate up with the Velcro patches 18 pinned or glued
to both sides of the baseball cap for stowing the
earphones .

Once the apparatus is installed on the baseball cap,
operation would depend on the communications/entertainment
functions integrated into the electronics module. For the
most part, the Cap/Visor Integrated Multi-Media Apparatus
operations would be. common to most

communications/entertainment applications.- All applications
or functions would be design configured to operate in a
manual or voice activated mode or combinations of both.
The solar cell 2 would continually recharge the battery 6
which would apply primary power to the functional
electrical components in the electronic module 1.
Operation is initiated by depressing the power button in
the series of control switches 10. Power can also be
applied by dropping the display 5 from the stowed
horizontal position, to the active vertical position. The
display presents a menu of communication/electronic
functions available in the electronic module and the wearer
can scroll through that menu using the other two control
buttons to scroll up or down, and select by double
depressing the scroll button in quick succession on the

desired function. The scrolling/selecting function could
also be accomplished using voice commands to scroll up,
down and select. The wearer's voice commands would be
stored in the electronics modules internal memory, and the
wearers voice commands would be received by the built in
microphone 8, and processed, or if privacy is necessary,
the wearer can lower the boom microphone 9, which
automatically disables the built in mic. If the wearer
then selects the FM stereo reception for listening
pleasure, the antenna 3 would be raised to the vertical
position and extended. The wearer can scan manually for
the strongest FM signal or a desired FM station, using the
same buttons 10 previously used for scrolling and selecting
the functions on the functional display menu. The wearer
can also use voice commands to have the FM receiver scan
the FM band for the five strongest local FM signals and
display them on the visual display for the wearers viewing
and selection as necessary. Toggle switch 22 controls the
stereo and all audio volume. The wearer can select to
listen to the FM reception through the stereo speakers 7 or
direct the FM reception to the stereo earphones 4 for
private listening by selecting the earphones via switch 23.
The MP3 digital music playback follows the same operational
scenario as presented above for FM stereo reception, except
that the MP3 files have to.be loaded up into the electronic
module via the Input/Output jacks 12. The digital
selections show up on the display 5, and the wearer
manually or through voice commands make and plays
selections. The two way communications function can be
selected from the display 5 start menu with the wearer
manually or through voice interaction selecting a
communication channel from the two way communication screen
5, setting the volume 22, selecting built-in microphone 8
vs. boom microphone 9, built-in speakers 7 vs. earphones 4
via switch 23, and setting the antenna 3 to the vertical
position. Cell phone operation is much the same as for the
two-way communications function presented above. The
digital camera function applies the same digital
photographic technology currently available in some of the
Casio digital photograph capable wristwatches . While the
displays discussed in the previous

communications/entertainment functions were LED type for
presenting data, the camera display would have to be
constructed of some resolution of the picture element
(PIXEL) technology currently available on the market. The
camera lens 19 and some array of data storage PIXEL'S are
mounted on the back of the display cover. When the display

5 is lowered to the vertical level, and the digital camera
19 is selected manually using the scrolling control buttons
10 or via voice interaction, low-resolution digital still
•photographs are taken and stored in the electronic modules
internal memory. The image that is about to be taken
appears on the display screen. Those digital photos can
then be down loaded to some other medium from the
Input/Output jacks 12. The more complex the electronics
packaging becomes (i.e. adding more sophistication to the
digital camera, digital camcorder, etc.) the more the
operation will depend on scrolling through and selecting
menu functions using voice activated technology.

Shutting the system down would be a matter of hitting the
power button to shut off power. The apparatus could still
be functional with the display stowed assuming the wearer
has mad all the display menu selections necessary to be
communicating or listening to music. The solar cell should
continue to recharge the internal battery. The antenna
should be stowed to the horizontal position. The earphones
should be attached to their velcro storage points, and the
boom microphone (if deployed) should be moved up under the
baseball cap/visor to it's stow position.

Conclusions, Ramifications and Scope

Accordingly, the reader can see that the Cap/Visor
Integrated Multi-Media Apparatus brings a new era of
esthetically pleasing, convenient, unobtrusive, innocuous,
multi functional, communications/entertainment devices to
the consumer. The components of the apparatus use the
physical characteristics of the first embodiment, the
baseball cap to the maximum extent possible in providing a
communications/entertainment package that:

is readily available to the wearer at all times

eliminates the need for packing, carrying, storing,
holding or applying electronic devices, headsets, wires,

eliminates the hand held and wired headset
distractions allowing for enhanced awareness and focus when
communicating while driving a motor vehicle,

will reduce incidents of dropped, lost or stolen
electronic communication /entertainment devices since there
will be no need to handle the devices once the Cap/Visor
Integrated Multi-Media apparatus is on the wearer's head

is practically invisible to the casual observer,

provides a large rigid platform for the solar cell
allowing for a variety of solar cell dimensions to match
differences in electrical requirements as called for by
different packaging of communications/entertainment
electronics devices in the electronic module,

provides a mounting location the antenna that affords
the wearer some measure of safety with regard to
transmitted RF energy and the proximity of the antenna and
the ear canal,

allows for foul weather operation with the electronics
module located underneath the Cap/Visor,

offers multiple communication/entertainment functions
in one package,

offers manual as well as voice activated controls,

offers built-in stereo speaker reception as well as
privacy earphones,

offers a built in microphone for transmitting voice as
well as a boom microphone when privacy is needed,

offers the hands free digital camera apparatus

offers the hands free digital video recorder apparatus

Although the description above contains many specificities,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of this
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of
the preferred embodiments of this invention; Variations to
the preferred embodiment are for example,

all of the Cap/Visor Integrated Multi-media components
can be integrated into the cap/visor itself, as opposed to
hanging the components underneath and on top of the visor.

•

The Multi-Media integrated visor can then be sewn or other
wise fastened to the cap and worn on the wearer's head.

the visual display presented in all of the
illustrations of the preferred embodiment is shown in the
center of the electronics module. It might better be
placed to the right or left of center, so that when
deployed to the vertical position, one eye could view the
display while the other eye would continue to have an
unobtrusive view of what is ahead of the wearer.

For some applications, like viewing GPS maps or
broadcast TV channels, the entire bottom lid of the
electronics module could hinge down providing a wide
display for both eyes. The technology is mature enough for
that sort of a display and there are several products on
the market today that provide this feature on eyeglass like
rims which hang on the nose and over the ears. All of the
electronics modules controls, built-in speakers, built-in
microphones, I/O ports and batteries would have to be on
the back side of this display or covered by the display
when it is in it's stowed horizontal position.

The electronics module could be configured with a port
that has an adapter into which digital memory cards are
plugged, each card having a different

communication/entertainment function, or combinations of
functions. The multi-media apparatus would then be
programmed to perform in accordance with the functional
card that happened to be plugged into the port.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by
the examples given.